BISMARCK – Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring has announced that applications are now being accepted for Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) Program grants.
The RFSI Program is intended to serve middle-of-the-supply-chain need to add value and provide more, new and better markets for locally or regionally produced food. Funds will support expanded capacity for the aggregation, processing, manufacturing, storing, transporting, wholesaling and distribution of locally and regionally produced food products, including specialty crops, dairy, grains for human consumption, aquaculture, and other food products, excluding meat and poultry.
“Through the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure program, we will strengthen our supply chain and reduce bottlenecks to protect against disruptions,” Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring said. “People living in rural areas and small to medium sized communities will benefit from increased efficiencies.”
North Dakota received $4.69 million from USDA’s Agriculture Marketing Service for the program. The North Dakota Department of Agriculture (NDDA) will distribute the funds through a competitive grant process.
Two types of grants are available. The simplified equipment-only grant is for equipment only and has a minimum grant amount of $10,000 and maximum of $100,000. The infrastructure grant is for equipment, installation, supplies and construction, and has a minimum grant amount of $100,000. Applicants may only apply for one type of grant.
Goehring said an information manual with application instructions, scoring criteria, an application template and supporting documents can be found on NDDA’s website: https://www.ndda.nd.gov/rfsi.
Applications must be submitted in electronic form by 4 p.m. CST Wednesday, April 3, 2024. Applications will then be reviewed, scored, ranked and provided to Agriculture Commissioner Goehring to determine which applications will be forwarded to USDA for final approval in May 2024.
Goehring said persons needing more information should contact Deanna Gierszewski at (701) 328-2191 or degierszewski@nd.gov.